Working with you • Working for you
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Welcome to Beresfords Beresfords are Essex’s largest family owned independent estate agency and have been successfully operating for nearly 50 years.
Beresfords were established in 1968 as an independent practice in Upminster by R D and E G Beresford. Our Chairman and Managing Director, Paul Beresford, joined his parents in the business in 1975 after training in London Thanks to our low staff turnover, many of our team have been with the company for well over a decade. We now have twenty six offices and departments throughout Essex and into Greater and Central London. We are very fortunate in being able to say that a large proportion of our business is from personal recommendations and repeat business. For some of our clients we have sold their properties four or five times. They understand the importance of being greeted by a familiar face and having at their disposal someone who has sound and professional knowledge of the local property market.
Traditional values with a modern approach 3
Estate agency professionals Beresfords professional membership instils trust in the services that we offer.
As members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), clients can feel confident that our staff have the knowledge and experience to support and protect them through their property transaction as effectively as possible. We are also members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme (TPOS) who offer a free, impartial and independent service for the resolution of unresolved disputes between consumers and property agents.
Instilling confidence and trust in our service 4
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Investment in our people Training and development is vitally important to ensure we consistently deliver outstanding levels of customer service and go the extra mile for clients.
The customer journey starts with the first contact and that is why we invest heavily in training and the welfare of our people, making sure they are able to deliver the outstanding service we demand and you as a customer expect. From the first day of joining the company, all individuals go through an intensive induction course which takes in all aspects of their role. This is accompanied by further training on compliance and legislation making sure they are fully prepared for dealing with the demanding role as a representative of Beresfords.
Making excellent customer service the standard 7
Wider coverage It is no surprise that the more people who see your property, the greater sale price that can be achieved.
This is why we market clients’ properties to the widest possible audience through multiple advertising opportunities. Unlike many of our competitors, Beresfords properties are marketed across the county and into Greater & Central London through our network of 26 offices and departments. So not only are properties advertised within the Country & Village office, further advertising opportunities are secured through regional office window displays and carefully targeted advertising messages via database marketing. What’s more, we are regularly contacted by international buyers from countries such as America, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Australia.
More than one bite of the cherry 8
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London calling Thanks to Essex’s fantastic commuter links into London, a large proportion of Beresfords buyers currently live in the capital, work there or both!
This is why we have a London Office in St James’s Place in the heart of Mayfair. Large prominent window displays showcase properties and are a magnet to passers-by. Strong relationships have been built with journalists to ensure that properties are regularly featured in the national press. Leading property magazine Acquire, is produced by The London Office and is distributed throughout London and the UK and features clients’ properties. Another key marketing tool is The London and Country Property Show which we attend each year and is organised by The London Office. This leading property forum allows potential purchasers to learn more about different areas of the country.
Reaching the lucrative London and international markets 11
Taking property marketing to the next level Beresfords state of the art website has recently been re-designed to ensure it is fully responsive for all devices.
The website alone attracts close to half a million visitors per year, from both the UK and from around the world. To meet clients’ growing needs, numerous features are included such as detailed area videos which are essential when around 50% of buyers are not local. If you require a mortgage, ‘real time’ mortgage rates are accessible and can be searched based on set criteria. For families, interactive local school guides display Ofsted reports, exam performance and pupil/teacher ratios. Furthermore, property and news updates are regularly sent to a strong database of over 90,000 contacts and are featured on Beresfords Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Voted best online marketer in the UK 12
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Property portals covered As well as Beresfords own prominent website, clients see their properties advertised on leading property portals including Rightmove, OnTheMarket.com and Countrylife.co.uk.
When reviewing properties online, potential purchasers make a judgement to view based on the information they see. Therefore we always ensure that the photographs being shown are of the highest quality and the property descriptions which accompany them, clearly identify the main selling features. Unlike most agents, all of our properties on Rightmove are displayed as ‘Premium Listings’ at no additional cost to clients. These are special boxes which hold more images and are shaded to stand out from the rest. According to Rightmove, 20% more buyers view full details when Premium Listings are used.
Attracting thousands of potential purchasers every day 15
Tailored property details Beresfords take great pride in the quality of our marketing material and produce bespoke property brochures to suit both the needs of our clients and their properties.
Working alongside a highly experienced brochure company, a number of designs and styles are available to choose from. All brochures also feature a professionally produced floorplan. Of course a major focus of any brochure has to be the photography. We work alongside professional photographers to ensure that the property is presented in the best possible way. Together with elevated photography, there is the added option of drone footage to really sell the uniqueness of each of our country homes. The tour gives prospective buyers a first-hand look and view of the property, giving them a much better idea of whether the home is right for them before they book a viewing.
Personalised details to suit you and your property 16
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Going the extra mile Marketing is one of Beresfords strengths which is why we are proud winners of the International Property Award for Best Real Estate Agency Marketing in the UK.
Many agents no longer advertise properties in newspapers, informing clients that only online advertising is needed. However recent figures from the Office of National Statistics state that 16% of all households across the UK do not have internet access. We remain committed to providing clients with the widest possible exposure across all key media including newspapers. Alongside newspaper advertising, properties are also featured within leading property publications including ‘Country and Townhouse’, ‘Essex Life’, ‘Exquisite Essex’, ‘Havering Resident’ and ‘Life and Home’. Beresfords also produce bespoke magazines including ‘Essex Homes & Style’ which is aimed at high net worth individuals throughout Essex and into Greater London. This is accompanied by our ‘Residential’ magazine which is distributed to almost 390,000 homes throughout the area.
Award winning marketing 19
Qualifying buyers Before a viewing takes place, a potential purchaser’s circumstances are carefully considered to ensure they are best suited to your property.
Once a property comes to market, staff will carefully search our database of potential purchasers to find those who are best suited, based on price, location and personal requirements, with our people taking pride in matching the right property to the right buyer. Once an offer has been made, our independent financial advisers will substantiate the offer & ensure the necessary funding is available. For client’s peace of mind, we will always establish the details of any interested party before they view a property.
Matching the right buyer with the right property 20
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Highly experienced independent advisers Beresfords have appointed Flagstone Financial as their financial services partner. Flagstone are one of the largest introducers of mortgages and insurance products in the UK and form part of the Beresfords group.
Due to their size, they benefit from a large number of exclusive mortgage rates that are not available to the general public direct. Most lenders or brokers can only provide one insurance company for your life cover. Flagstone are totally independent and are able to source the best product to suit your needs. The team are fully qualified and experienced in asking the right questions of you to ensure that you don’t just get a mortgage, you get the best deal possible. Once you have completed the paperwork for your mortgage, the dedicated Mortgage Service Centre will keep you fully informed of the progress of your application. They will liaise with your lender, estate agent and solicitor, providing you with regular updates, right up to completion.
Providing you with independent mortgage advice 23
An honest and professional service Before providing clients with a valuation of their property, Beresfords will thoroughly research the market to ensure we are providing them with the best possible advice.
Information is drawn from: Our comprehensive understanding of the local market. Current sales agreed on comparable properties. Previous sales agreed on comparable properties. Comparable properties that are for sale but not yet sold. The level of buyers we have registered.
All of the above will help you achieve the best possible price for your property.
Right advice, right price! 24
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“
Beresfords discreet service worked perfectly for us. The team managed to match our property to a buyer without the need of making the sale public knowledge. We found the team to be exceptionally professional and helpful when it came to selling our home.
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Mr K W, Wickham Bishops.
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A discreet service to meet your needs Discreet marketing brings a whole new dimension to buying and selling property.
For a number of reasons clients wish to sell discreetly, bypassing traditional advertising and for sale boards. Equally we have clients who are actively looking for a certain type of property but do not want this to be made public knowledge. We pride ourselves on having a thorough understanding of the serious buyers on our database and we are able to discuss with them the properties that are not available on the open market that may fit their requirements. With a range of properties and buyers on our register and our knowledge of the local property market, we are happy to offer a confidential service tailored to your individual needs.
One size doesn’t fit all 27
Working for you Once Beresfords have been successful in agreeing a sale on your home, our services do not stop there.
Having been established since 1968, we have forged strong links with many leading solicitors and conveyancers enabling us to progress your sale from start to finish in a professional and comprehensive way. Our dedicated Sales Progression Team have years of experience in dealing with all aspects of the sales process and will be on hand with advice and expertise to make sure your sale proceeds as smoothly as possible. Thanks to detailed training and experience, our teams are here to help you through the most difficult of circumstances and are aware that the customer experience is the most important part of their job.
With you every step of the way 28
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What else do I need to consider? Before an estate agent can commence the marketing of a property, a number of items are needed.
It is a legal requirement under The Anti Money Laundering Regulations for all estate agents to verify the identity and the address of the owner. It is a criminal offence not to do so and it also reduces the risk of property theft. In addition, you will need to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). We advise all clients to begin thinking about who will be carrying out the legal conveyancing of the sale and possible purchase of their next home. If you are purchasing another property and require a mortgage, it is recommended that you speak to an independent mortgage adviser to seek advice on costs and to ensure you get the best deal. We would advise that this is done sooner rather than later. Beresfords are able to help you with all of the above.
Everything under one roof 31
Why Beresfords? Beresfords offer a unique and tailored approach to selling property and pride ourselves on the quality of service that we offer.
• At Beresfords you will have access to somebody
• Our prominent Residential Magazine is
7 days a week 24/7, allowing clients to conduct
distributed to almost 390,000 homes
their business at a time that suits them.
throughout Essex and into Greater London.
• Members of all the recognised professional
• Over 50 years of local market knowledge and
bodies.
experience.
• Winners of over 35 property awards in the last
• Regular newspaper and magazine advertising in
10 years.
all the leading local and regional publications,
• Network of branches throughout Essex and into
and features in the national press.
Greater & Central London sharing a database
• Family run business where core family values
of thousands of potential buyers, capturing
are part of everything that we do.
both local and out of area demand.
• Award winning website and marketing
• Bespoke marketing initiatives exclusive to
campaigns, alongside advertising on leading
us which attract thousands of potential
property portals.
purchasers.
• Full colour property brochures which feature
• Specially commissioned property and lifestyle magazines, including ‘Essex Homes & Style’ which is aimed at high net worth individuals.
professional photography and floorplans. • Bespoke marketing strategies to suit clients’ needs including working on a discreet marketing basis.
Matching people to property since 1968 32
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Client Testimonials “I have been very pleased
“Beresfords were proactive,
“Beresfords have been the
“Beresfords have
with the service that I have received at Beresfords and would not hesitate to market a property through you in the future, or to recommend Beresfords as
hardworking, calm under pressure, courteous and sold my property in a short period of time after I switched to Beresfords from
most helpful estate agents by far, everyone has gone out of their way to get back to me as soon as possible. It has not escaped my notice that you also seem to have the most houses on your books so I am assuming that your reputation is not just
performed magnificently and your modern and proactive approach to the promotion of our property
”
an estate agent.
Ms E Barrowclough
another estate agent. Mr A Bradford
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”
limited to me.
Ms G Stewart
To see video testimonials, visit our website www.beresfords.co.uk
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has made the difference. Mr D Payne
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